Toothpick dispenser



Dec; 3, 1929. F. ZANARDELLI ET AL TOOTHPIGK DISPENSER Filed July 10, 1928 7 anvwbozo EZanardelli abl omua GAnZonelli Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES T Flo's TOOTHPICK DISPENSER Application filed July 10, 1928. Serial 170. 291,529.

The main object of this invention is to provide a device which dispenses tooth picks one at a time by presenting a single tooth pick above a dish containing the same 'so that it can be easily grasped by the fingers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tooth pick dispenser which is provided with a tooth pick carrier mounted movably on a stafl and, when the carrier is depressed, a single tooth pick is presented above the latter so that it can readily be extracted without the fingers coming on contact with the remainder of the tooth picks.

The above and other objects will become apparent in the description below, in which characters of reference refer to like-named parts in the drawing.

Referring briefly to the drawing, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view through the tooth pick dispenser, showing the tooth pick carrier in extended position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the tooth pick carrier in extracted position with the device presenting a single tooth ick. p Figure 3 is a longitudinal elevational View of the tooth pick carrier.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates a flat base for the device. The base serves as a rest for the entire device and has a hollow staff 11 extending upwardly therefrom. Said staff is provided with a longitudinal vertical slot 12 which receives and forms a guideway for a pin 13 anchored to a sleeve 14, which latter is slidable longitudinally on the staff 11. The lower end of a push rod 15 is fixed upon the upper end of the staff 11. This push rod projects axially upward within the sleeve and, at its upper end, is provided with a conical de pression 16. The sleeve 14; has its upper end secured to the conical wall 17 of a tooth pick carrier 18. The upper end of the tooth pick carrier is flared outwardly at 19 to present as much surface as possible, as at this flared end the fingers come in contact with the carrier for purposes of depressing the latter. A coiled spring 20 is wound about the push rod 15, seating upon the staff at its lower end, and

exerting a pressure upon the conical forma- I tion 17 of the tooth pick carrier at its upper end. The apex of the conical portion 17 of the tooth pick carrier is provided with an opening through which the rod is adapted to pass. A collar 20' depends from the tip of the conical formation 17 and envelops that portion of the push rod 15 passing through it.

The device illustrated in the drawing is adapted to present a single tooth pick at a 130 time above the tooth pick carrier when the latter is depressed or lowered. The conical formation 17 tends to shift the lower ends of the tooth picks 22 toward the center of the carrier. As the depression 16 of the push-o5 rod is located exactly at the center and lies a small fraction below the tip of this conical formation, one tooth pick will have its lower end enter into the depression 16 at all times when the device is in the position shown in. 30 Figure 1. When a tooth pick fits itself in the depression 16 and the fingers contact with the flared end 19 of the carrier and depress the latter downwardly against the tension of the coiled spring 20 which lifts the car- 7, rier, the latter is lowered while the single tooth pick supported upon the push rod 15 remains in its original position. The carrier, in being lowered, carries all of the tooth picks with it to a lower position. In the position 50 shown in Figure 2 the tooth pick is presented above the carrier and may be quite readily extracted without disturbing or touching the remainder of'the tooth picks, thus affording a sanitary condition. f as It is to be noted that certain changes in form and construction may be made without depart-ing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

In a device of the class described, a circular stationary base, a hollow staff thereon, a tubular tooth pick carrier mounted movably on said staff, a push rod mounted stationary on said staff, said push rod projecting axially into said carrier, a conical depression at the upper end of said push rod, a sleeve projecting from said carrier slidable on said stafl, a pin at the lower end of said sleeve, a slot extending longitudinally on said 10 stafi receiving said pin, said pin limiting the upward movement of said sleeve, and a coil spring in said sleeve seating upon said stafl? being wound about said push rod and 5 supporting said carrier for yieldably lifting said carrier to its raised position.

In testimony whereof We afiix our signatures;

FAUST ZANARDELLIf CESARE ANTONELLI. o 

